Italian Christmas Food and Drinks

When most people think of Christmas, they think of warm fires, cozy sweaters, and spending time with family. For many Italians, Christmas is all about the food. From savory dishes to sweet treats, there's no shortage of amazing holiday eats in Italy. So if you're looking for some inspiration for your Christmas feast, keep reading for a rundown of some of the best Italian Christmas foods and drinks. Buon Natale!

In Italy, there is technically no “Christmas dinner.” Christmas Day is celebrated with a lunchtime feast.

Still, during our time in Italy, we have been able to enjoy traditional Italian Christmas dinner feats thanks to our local friends, who were eager to show us festive season dishes, including wheat pasta and several holiday table staples.

On Christmas eve dinner, you need to start with a good selection of appetizers, comprising some of the traditional Italian Christmas food.

A classic Italian Christmas meal has several courses, including appetizers, main dishes, side dishes (called contorni), desserts, and drinks.

Although each region has its own Christmas traditions, pasta always is always part of an Italian meal and should have a place on the Christmas table; maybe a unique version, such as baked pasta, or filled pasta like ravioli with a particularly cold season filling such as foraged dried mushrooms.

Risotto is also often part of the Christmas menu, especially in northern Italy.

Some traditional Christmas foods include candied fruit, Italian sausage, and meat dishes like roast lamb, salt cod, or roasted veal.

Appetizers or first course

Easy Vegan Gnocchi with a Simple Tomato Sauce

This vegan gnocchi is soft and fluffy pillows of potato dough that have been cooked to perfection and tossed in the simplest of tomato sauces. You'll be surprised how easy it is to make!

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Tuscan White Bean Soup

Looking for a delicious and healthy soup recipe? This white bean vegetable soup is authentic Tuscan ribollita, and it's naturally vegan and gluten-free!

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Easy Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Recipe

With only a few simple ingredients, these stuffed mushrooms can be whipped up in no time. Plus, they're perfect for satisfying your hunger without leaving you feeling weighed down.

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Vegan Eggplant Involtini

This Vegan Eggplant Involtini (aubergine involtini) recipe is the veganized version of the classic Italian dish.

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Italian Farro Salad

Italian Farro is delectable and easy to prep in advance, packed with colorful veggies and tempeh bacon. Tossed in light Italian dressing, this Italian farro recipe is simply a bowl of mealtime sunshine.

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Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe

Flat oven-baked Italian bread is similar in style and texture to pizza dough. You can use it as a side to many meals or as sandwich bread.

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Tomato Bruschetta

This easy oil-free Tomato Bruschetta is a perfect appetizer for a nice Italian dinner or party. It's beautiful and absolutely delicious!

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Make it with your homemade Italian Pagnotta Crusty bread.

Italian Artisan Bread (Pagnotta)

Discover the rich tradition of Italian Artisan Bread. Perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers, enjoy the rustic charm and unbeatable taste of this authentic Italian staple.

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Main course

Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Lasagna

This vegan gluten-free lasagna is easy to make, healthy, and delicious. Made with zucchini, spinach, and a creamy sauce, it's perfect for a weeknight dinner. – it’s Gluten-free, dairy-free, and WFPB.

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Vegan Butternut Squash Ravioli

The creamy filling and buttery sage sauce will have you going for seconds! Plus, it's easy to make so that you can impress and enjoy a great bowl of homemade ravioli with fall's cozy flavors.

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Vegan Vegetable Casserole

This Vegan Vegetable Casserole makes an excellent Christmas table main dish. We have made it our Holiday Dinner's centerpiece, and it is now considered a staple of our feast.

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Roasted Eggplant Pasta Sauce

This simple but fantastic Sicilian eggplant recipe is packed with intense flavors, although only requires a few ingredients.

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Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto

We all know how important it is to eat healthy, butsometimes you need good comfort food. This creamy vegan mushroom risotto willmake your day! The best part? You only need 25 minutes to cook it.

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Livornese Stewed Beans

These Livornese Stewed Beans are the ultimate rustic Italian comfort food! Made with simple pantry-friendly ingredients like onions, garlic, tomato paste and white beans, but it's big on gourmet Italian flavor. It's cozy and indulgent but wholesome, vegan, and gluten-free.

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Vegan Baked Polenta Recipe with Tofu Ragout

With the cooler temperatures arriving and the rainy season approaching, we are always up for a good piece of baked Polenta. And we like it stuffed with a rich and healthy layer of Vegan Bolognese.

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Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Risotto

A creamy and delicious sun-dried tomato risotto recipe, perfect for any hassle-free vegan or meat-free meal as it is made with staple pantry ingredients.

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Red Wine Risotto

A healthy vegan recipe for red wine risotto. This dish is perfect for a special occasion such as a romantic Valentine’s night in.

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Side dishes (contorni)

Broccoli Rabe with Garlic

Rapini, also known as broccoli rabe, is delicious with garlic! This Italian dish is often served on Christmas Eve.

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How to Cook Romanesco Broccoli

If you are lucky to have broccoli romanesco locally, do yourself a favor and grab one. You will be greatly rewarded with this beauty.

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Roman-Style Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana)

The simplicity of the ingredients and how they dance together in perfect tune in your palate makes you realize that yes! Less is more!

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White Asparagus Recipe

Are you looking for amazing vegan white asparagus recipes? Look no further; this is the perfect article. We included some tips on how to cook your vegetables properly and a couple of suggestions on what side dishes will go well with your favorites!

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Italian Sautéed Escarole Recipe

Ready in 25 minutes, this Sautéed Escarole Recipe from Naples is delicious! This festive, sweet-and-savory dish features Italian greens with olive oil, garlic, raisins and pine nuts.

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Pan-grilled Asparagus with Toasted Flaked Almonds

It’s asparagus season, and I can’t get enough of it. This grilled asparagus brings out its best. This recipe is made in five minutes and the flavor is to die for.

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Italian Christmas Desserts

You will always find a Panetonne in every Christmas lunch, whether in the Northern, Central, or Southern Region; However, this delicious treat was born in the North, but other Italian desserts are easier to make at home.

Pangiallo Romano (Roman Christmas Cake)

Roman Traditional Holiday dessert is typically prepared on the Winter Solstice day as a good omen hoping that the sun will return soon. The main ingredients are dark chocolate and candied and dried fruit.

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Lemon Sorbet Recipe

This is the best keto Italian lemon sorbet recipe on the internet. You can whip up the perfect keto friendly vegan frozen dessert with minimal cook time and only 3 ingredients. This keto lemon sorbet is naturally gluten free, vegan and dairy free!

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Vegan Amaretti

No need to feel left out if you're vegan, these amaretti taste just as good as the original. Sweet, chewy, scrumptious almond cookies are a real crowd please and perfect for gifting too..

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Orange and Cranberry Biscotti

Festive cranberry and orange peel biscotti dipped in dairy-free white chocolate. An easy recipe that will be loved by all.

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Vegan Almond Biscotti

Italian biscotti but without eggs and dairy! Sweet, crunchy, and perfect for dipping in hot coffee or cocoa.

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Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts (10 Minutes + Vegan GF)

These delicious and addictive brown sugar candied walnuts are the perfect healthy snack for topping overnight oats or as a Christmas gift!

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Zeppole Italian Doughnuts

Zeppole are an Italian treat that is basically doughnut-like in shape but without the hole in the middle. And trust me when I say that they are delicious! If you're ever in the mood for something different than your average fried dough sweet, give this one a try!

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Drinks

Cranberry Gin Fizz

This Cranberry Orange Gin Fizz is truly the best cocktail to make during the Holiday season!

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Old Fashioned Amaro

This Cynar Toronto is an old-fashioned style cocktail made with an Italian amaro. This stirred drink is a perfectly balanced sweet and bitter sipper!

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Here are some delicious hot Christmas drinks and we are sure you will enjoy.

Spiced Red Wine Liqueur

This Spiced Wine Liqueur is easy to make, rich, dense, and oh so aromatic, the perfect spirit to serve during the Holiday Season.

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Limoncello Spritz

The perfect Christmas cocktail. This limoncello spritz is light, refreshing, and perfect for sipping after Christmas lunch. Plus, it's easy to make, so you can enjoy one (or two) without spending too much time in the kitchen. Cheers!

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Italian Hot Chocolate

This Italian hot chocolate is rich, creamy, and really easy to make. It's the perfect post-dinner treat with a drink and dessert in one!

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We hope you enjoyed reading about the delicious food and drinks traditionally served during Christmas in Italy. Just thinking about them makes us hungry! We can't wait to start cooking up some of these festive dishes. Will you join us? Let's get cooking!

Gustavo De Obaldia

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As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.

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